Ferguson Partners Appoints Leader of Southwest Region
September 5, 2024 – Chicago-based Ferguson Partners has named Matt McAulay as managing director of the firm’s executive search practice in the Southeast region of the U.S. “Matt’s experience, values, and approach to client servicing align perfectly with Ferguson Partners, and his hire further enhances our reputation as the premier real assets talent management firm,” said William J. Ferguson, co-founder, co-chairman, and CEO of Ferguson Partners. “As we continue our expansion, one of our primary goals was to establish a true presence within the Southeast – we’re thrilled to have Matt lead our efforts in this market and build a business line that will offer valuable executive search consulting services and effective human capital solutions for clients in this high-growth region.”
“Ferguson is assembling an unmatched roster of professionals, and Matt’s unique real estate experience coupled with his proven executive search proficiency made him the ideal candidate to serve as our Southeast regional anchor,” said Graham Beatty, president. “He has consistently delivered superior results throughout his career, and we’re incredibly pleased to add him to our thriving team of industry specialists.”
Mr. McAulay brings over 10 years of search advisory experience to his new role with Ferguson. Throughout his career, he has conducted searches on behalf of a diversified client base and has placed executives in a wide range of new employment opportunities ranging from management through C-Suite level positions. Mr. McAulay most recently served with Crown Advisors as a senior director serving a wide range of clients including regional developers, owners, and operators of various product types, in addition to national publicly traded REITs. He began his executive search career in 2013 with his father at The McAulay Smith Firm, a retained executive search firm serving a national client base ranging from small private companies to Fortune 50 corporations. He later established his own executive search practice, Steelhead Search, before joining Crown Advisors to focus exclusively on the real estate sector.
Prior to his executive search career, Mr. McAulay spent eight years in brokerage in the commercial real estate industry. He was a founding member of CBRE’s Carolinas Multihousing Group, brokering over $1 billion in institutional multifamily assets in the region. He also spent four years with Bissell Patrick, LLC conducting office leasing and sales activities.
Mr. McAulay appointment also arrives as Ferguson Partners continues to expand its company footprint and boost their organizational expertise through several key new hires across its lines of business, including the recent addition of Mr. Beatty as president.
Expanding the Southeast Market
In his new role, Mr. McAulay will lead the growth of Ferguson’s global executive recruitment and talent management practice throughout the Southeast market. He will provide search and leadership advisory services for real estate organizations in the region, as well as oversee the placement of C-suite and senior executive positions. Mr. McAulay will be based in the firm’s Charlotte, NC, office.
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“Ferguson offers an unrivaled talent management platform to serve real estate client needs, and the company’s ‘boots on the ground’ expansion into the Southeast is really exciting,” said Mr. McAulay. “The organization’s boutique, yet institutional, white-glove approach offers a sophisticated but hands-on service that’s unmatched in the industry, and their track record speaks for itself.”
Founded in Chicago in 1989 by Mr. Ferguson and Michael Herzberg, Ferguson Partners is a global professional services firm specializing in executive and director recruitment, as well as leadership, compensation and management consulting. The firm is dedicated to serving the human capital and organizational consulting needs of the real estate, hospitality and leisure, infrastructure, engineering and construction, and healthcare services sectors.
In addition to its Chicago headquarters, the firm has offices in Charlotte, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. Its recruitment practice conducts more than 200 searches globally each year for C-suite executives, other senior business leaders, and board of director positions. Ferguson Partners also offers a full range of leadership services through our leadership consulting practice including CEO and senior executive succession planning, leadership assessment, coaching and team effectiveness.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
